Legal Research

Anonymization of parties? names in Canadian case law?

By Ted Tjaden

Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has advocated to the Canadian Bar Association the anonymization in some (or all?) Canadian judicial decisions published on the Internet - see her remarks here and one online media report of her address here.

I have mixed feelings about this. Clearly, it makes sense when children are involved. But adults who knowingly enter into litigation? What about companies or businesses? We will need to await more details of her recommendations. However, I would lean in favour of open access to all information unless the court on its own initiative or the parties request with valid reason that names or details be redacted or anonymized.

Full post as published by Slaw.ca on August 20, 2008 (boomark / email).